Rotary handle mechanism including linkage system with reciprocating circuit breaker handle



1967 J. c. BRUMFIELD 3,301,972

ROTARY HANDLE MECHANISM INCLUDING LINKAGE SYSTEM WITH RECIPROCATING CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLE Filed Feb. 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 s e r I /0 l I 6' I I I i I l I l l I\ j 'I I I J I I M: l

| I j l 2 I l m z/i/yrae Jfi/V/V c. .F/FU/W/VZM 1967 J. c. BRUMFIELD 3,301,972

ROTARY HANDLE MECHANISM INCLUDING LINKAGE SYSTEM WITH RECIPROCATING CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLE Filed Feb. 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I 4: 4. r z;- 3.

Jan. 31, 1967 J. c. BRUMFIELD 3,301,972

ROTARY HANDLE MECHANISM INCLUDING LINKAGE SYSTEM WITH RECIPROCATING CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLE Fi1ed Feb. 25, 1966 4 SheetsSheet 3 Jan. 31, 1967 J. c. BRUMFIELD ROTARY HANDLE MECHANISM INCLUDING LINKAGE SYSTEM WITH RECIPROCATING CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLE Filed Feb. 25, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent ROTARY HANDLE MECHANISM INCLUDING LINKAGE SYSTEM WITH RECIPROCATING CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLE John C. Brumfield, Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Feb. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 530,029 Claims. (Cl. 200-17) This invention relates to handle mechanisms for the operation of enclosure mounted circuit breakers and more particularly relates to an improved construction for the element which directly drives and engages the circuit breaker handle.

US. Patent No. 2,890,302 issued June 9, 1959, entitled, Operating Mechanism for Variable Depth Enclosure, with W. De Benedictis as inventor, illustrates a rotary handle mechanism, mounted upon the openable cover of an enclosure, for operating a circuit breaker within the enclosure and mounted to the enclosure wall remote from the cover. With such a device in the cover open position, the handle mechanism is completely disconnected from the circuit breaker and because of this the position of the handle mechanism cannot be relied upon as being indicative of whether the circuit breaker is opened or closed. Further, because the cover mounted handle mechanism may, when the cover is open, assume a different position than the circuit breaker handle it is necessary to provide a costly resilient slam proof means 1 to cushion closing of the cover.

In order to eliminate these undesirable and/or costly features the instant invention provides a construction in which the handle mechanism consists of a front section, a rear section and a connecting section which always joins the front and rear sections. The rear section is mounted directly to a front surface of the circuit interrupter which is mounted within the enclosure on the rear wall thereof. The front section includes a rotary handle which extends through an opening in the enclosure cover when the cover is in its closed position so that the handle is operable from outside the enclosure. A defeatable cover interlock is provided to prevent unauthorized persons from opening the enclosure cover when the circuit interrupter is closed. A defeatable switch interlock is provided to prevent accidental closing of the circuit interrupter when the enclosure cover is opened and a handle locking means is provided to prevent unauthorized handle operation.

The cover and switch interlocks include a common cam operated by the mechanism handle.

Accordingly a primary object of the instant invention is to provide a novel construction for a rotary handle mechanism used to operate a circuit interrupter mounted within an enclosure having an openable cover with this handle mechanism extending outside of the cover.

Another object is to provide a rotary handle mechanism of this type which will always provide a positive indication of the circuit interrupter operating handle.

Still another object is to provide a handle mechanism of this type having a novel construction for the rear section thereof which directlyengages the circuit interrupter operating handle.

A further object is to provide a handle mechanism of this type in which the element which drives the circuit breaker handle engages the latter with a curved ear portion formed about an axis which is oblique with respect to the plane of motion for the element and is inclined toward the handle.

These objects as well as other objects will become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective showing a circuit inter- "ice rupter mounted in an enclosure having an openable cover, with a rotary handle mechanism for interrupter operation, constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention but without a connecting section.

FIGURE 2 is a elevation, partially sectioned, showing the rear and connecting sections of the handle mechanism.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the front section of the handle mechanism.

FIGURE 4 is an elevation of the front section loo-king in the direction of arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the front section with the ring assembly, handle and gasket removed to more clearly reveal the elements of the cover and switch interlocks.

FIGURE 6 is an elevation looking in the direction of arrows 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a rear view of the handle ring assembly.

FIGURES 8 and 9 are elevations of the rotary handle and related elements taken through line 8-8 of FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of arrows 88 with the handle in the OFF position. In FIGURE 8 the handle locking mechanism is inactive while in FIGURE 9 this mechanism is extended to locking position.

FIGURE 10 is an elevation looking at the rear of the rear section.

FIGURE 11 is an elevation looking in the direction of arrows 1111 of FIGURE 10.

FIGURE 12 is an exploded perspective of the rotary handle mechanism.

Now referring to the figures. The device of the instant invention is used in connection with rectangular sheet metal enclosure 21 having openable front cover 22. Circuit interrupter 23 mounted to the rear wall 24 of enclosure 21 is a multi-pole molded case circuit breaker of a type described in US Patent No. 3,155,802 issued November 3, 1964, entitled, U-Shaped Cradle for Circuit Breaker, with E. Wortman as inventor.

The rotary handle mechanism of FIGURE 1 includes rear mechanism 25 mounted to the front of circuit interrupter 23 by four screws 26, and front mechanism 30 mounted to the front of rear mechanism 25 by two other screws 27. Cover 22 is provided with a circular aperture 28 which receives handle ring 29 of upper section 30 when cover 22 is closed. Cover 22 in the closed position thereof engages and slightly compresses gasket 31 mounted on the forward surface of plate 32. Rectangular gasket strip 33 mounted on the inside of cover 22 engages the free edges of the enclosure side walls when cover 22 is closed. It should now be apparent that gaskets 31 and 33 constitute means for dust proofing enclosure 21. v The depth of enclosure 21 in FIGURE 1 is such that I by merely mounting front section 30 directly to rear section 25 when cover 22 is closed it engages gasket 31 of front section 30. However, for the case of a deeper en closure (not shown) and a circuit interrupter no larger than circuit breaker 23 it is necessary to provide connecting section 35 (FIGURE 2) connecting front and rear sections 30, 25 together and positioning gasket 31 for engagement by the enclosure cover.

Now referring more particularly to FIGURES 3 through 5, front section 30 of the rotary handle mechanism also includes indicator plate 41 mounted by rivets 42 to the front of an interior ledge of ring 29. Elongated handle 43, having one end formed as a pointer, is positioned in plate 41 while the larger diameter rear section 44a of of the required guidance for slide 47. In FIGURE 8 slide 47 is shown in retracted position where it is ineffectual to perform a locking function. In FIGURE 9 slide 47 is shown extended from the end of handle 43 remote from the pointed end thereof. In order to extend slide 47 it must be aligned with ring notch 48, or ring notch 49 when the frangible section 29a of ring 29 is broken away. With slide 47 extended the shackles of one or more padlocks (not shown) may be inserted into the elongated slot 471) of slide 47 to prevent slide 47 from being moved to its retracted position of FIGURE 8. With slide 47 extended ring 29 blocks rotation of handle 43 and, as will hereinafter become apparent, prevents operation of circuit breaker 23.

Screws extending through clearance apertures 51 (FIG- URE in plate 32 are received by threaded apertures 52 in the rear of ring 29 to secure ring 29 and the elements mounted to plate 32. L-shaped sheet-like member 54 constructed of spring metal is mounted to the rear surface of plate 32 by rivets 55. The end of member 54 remote from rivets 55 carries blocking projection 56 which extends through aperture 57 in plate 32. Pin 58 extends from spring member 54 at a point intermediate the ends thereof through aperture 59 in plate 32, projecting perpendicular to the plane of member 54. For a reason to be hereinafter explained, when enclosure cover 22 is closed it engages and thereby depresses pin 58 deflecting spring 54 inwardly which in turn moves projection 56 to the rear providing clearance for counterclockwise movement of cam 60.

Cam 60 is keyed to bushing 45 at the rear of enlarged section 44a so that cam 60 is movable by handle 43. However, there is a certain amount of lost motion in the connection between handle 43 and cam 60 in that the inward radial keying extension 99 of cam 60 is not as long angularly as its cooperating keying notch 98 in bushing 45 (see FIGURE 7).

Cam 60 includes narrow radial extension 61 which cooperates with blocking projection 56 in a manner to be hereinafter explained in order to prevent closing of circuit breaker 23 when cover 22 is opened. Cam 60 also includes wide radial projection 62 disposed almost 180 from narrow projection 61. Projection 62 extends behind the main section 64 of cover interlock member 65 and is positioned between guide pin 66 and post 67. Pin 66 extends rearwardly from main section 64 and is disposed within elongated slot 68 in plate 32. Post 67 extends forwardly from plate 32 and is provided with an enlarged standoff section 67a adjacent to the forward surface of plate 32 with the narrow portion of post 67 being disposed within open ended slot 64a of latch member 65. It is noted that the portion 66a of pin 66 positioned immediately to the rear of latch member section 64 is of a diameter which is larger than the width of slot 68. Thus, pin portion 66a and post section 67a act to mount latch member 64 in spaced relation with respect to the forward surface of plate 32 so as to provide clearance for the movement of cam member 60.

Coiled tension spring 69 is secured at one of its ends to the forwardly extending ear 71 of latch member 65 and at its other end is secured to post 67 so as to bias latching members 65 to the left with respect to FIGURE 5 to a latching position. Member 65 may be operated to unlatching position to the right of that shown in FIGURE 5 by rotating cam member 60 in a clockwise direction with respect to FIGURE 5 so that Wide projection 62 engages pin 66. Latch member 65 may also be moved to the right with respect to FIGURE 5 by rotating the defeater member 70 in a clockwise direction so that extension 70a thereof engages pin 72 extending forwardly from latch member section 64. Defeater member 70 includes, at its axis of rotation, slotted portion 70b acessible for engagement'by a screw driver or the like insertable through aperture 41a in indicator plate 41. It is noted that aperture 41a is accessible when handle 43 is in the circuit breaker ON position but is concealed when handle 43 is in the OFF position.

Latch member 65 also include another section 74 disposed at right angles to section 64 and extending through slot 75. Section 74 also extends between the arms of U- shaped bracket 78 secured to the rear surface of plate 32 and cooperates therewith to stabilize and guide movement of latch member 65. The end of section 74 remote from section 64 is sloped and constitutes latching tip 76 which cooperates with bracket 77 carried on the inside of cover 22 to permit closing and latching of cover 22 even when handle 43 is in the circuit breaker ON position.

Assuming for the moment that the position of handle 43 always corresponds with the position of circuit breaker handle 23a, it is seen that with circuit breaker 23 ON, cam 60 is in the position shown in FIGURE 5 and latch tip 76 cooperates with cover bracket 77 to maintain enclosure cover 22 in closed position. Movement of handle 43 in a clockwise direction serves to rotate cam 60 in a clockwise direction into engagement with rearwardly extending pin 66 thereby moving latching member 65 to the right with respect to FIGURE 5 to its unlatching position wherein latching tip 76 is clear of bracket 77 thereby permitting cover 22 to be opened.

With handle 43 in circuit breaker OFF position, cam extension 61 is positioned to the left of projection 56 as viewed in FIGURE 5. Since the left end 56a of projection 56 extends substantially at right angles to the path of movement of cam 60, when cover 22 is opened, surface 56a is in the path of movement of cam extension 61 thereby blocking movement of cam 60 in a counterclockwise direction and in so doing preventing the closing of circuit breaker 23.

Projections 56 may be moved from this blocking position by depressing pin 58 either manually or by the closing of cover 22. When projection 56 is moved to the rear, or releasing position shown in phantom in FIGURE 6, projection 56 is no longer in the path of cam extension 61 so that cam 60 is free to operate in a counterclockwise direction thereby permitting handle 43 to close circuit breaker 23. It is noted that the sloping surface 56b of projection 56 and the resilient nature of member 54 permits the operation of circuit breaker 23 from ON position to OFF position when cover 22 is open in that clockwise movement of cam 60 from its position shown in FIGURE 5 causes the rounded edge portion 61a of cam extension 61 to engage sloping surface 5612 thereby camming projection 56 to the rear.

Connecting section 35 (FIGURE 2) includes drive rod member 81, exteriorly threaded spacer tube 82, mounting plates 83, 84 having flanges 83a, 84a, respectively, and adapter bushing 85. Each of the flange members 83a, 84a is provided with a threaded aperture which receives opposite ends of tube 82. After tube 82 is inserted into flange 83a these two members are welded or otherwise fixedly secured together. Once the angular position of flange member 84 relative to flange 83 is established, lock nut 86 mounted on the exterior of tube 82 is drawn against flange member 84a.

Rod 81 is disposed within tube 82 and extends along the axis thereof. Rod 81 is of square cross section with one end thereof received by a complementary aperture 81a (FIGURE 7) at the rear of bushing 45. The other end of rod 81 is entered into a complementary bore a of adapter 85 with this bore also receiving the square projection 87 extending forwardly from bushing 88 to the rear section 25. Thus, it is seen that rotation of handle 43 is transmitted by rod 81 from forward bushing 45 to rear bushing 88.

Four screws 89 received in threaded apertures 91 of plate 84 fixedly secured front section plate 32 to plate 84 of connecting section 35. Interiorly threaded nipples 92 extend forwardly from the sheet metal frame 93 of rear section 25 and are received by apertures 94 in rear plate 83. Screws 95 are threaded into nipples 92 and are provided with heads so proportioned that they retain plate 33 of connectingsection 35 mounted to rear section 25. It is noted that nipples 92 are positioned in what will be termed a square arrangement. The square cross section of rod 81 combined with the square arrangement of mounting nipples 92 permits the angular orientation or indexing of connecting section 35 to be readily changed with respect to rear section 25 in 90 steps thereby providing a significant degree of flexibility insofar as the positioning of circuit breaker 23 within enclosure 21.

Rear section 25 also includes main crank 101 and intermediate crank 102 both mounted between the arms of U-shaped frame 93. Main crank 101 is an elongated shallow-channel member while intermediate crank 102 is an elongated sheet member having a rearward step at one end thereof. One end of intermediate crank 102 is keyed at 103 to the rear end of bushing 85. The other or rearwardly stepped end of crank 102 is connected by pin 104 to one end of main crank 101 at slot 105 in crank 101. The cooperation of pin 104 and slot 105 provides a lost motion connection between cranks 101 and 102. The other end of main crank 101 is connected to post 106 fixed to frame 93 and extending parallel to bushing 88 and spaced therefrom. Spring clip 107 retains crank mounted to 101 to post 106.

As explained in the I. C. Brumfield application Serial No. 314,226, filed October 7, 1963, now abandoned, entitled Rotary Handle Operator and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention, rotation of rear bushing 88 in a clockwise direction with respect to FIGURE rotates pin 104 in a clockwise direction carrying along the free end of main crank 101. Thus, crank 101 moves in a clockwise direction about post 106 as a stationary pivot.

The portion of main crank 101 between post 106 and slide 105 is provided with aperture 108 which receives the operating handle 23a of circuit breaker 23. Screws 26 extending through frame aperatures 112 fixedly mount rear section to the front surface of circuit breaker 23 in operative position such that handle 23a is engaged by tang 116 for closing of circuit breaker 23.

It is noted that circuit breaker handle 23a is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis extending normal to the axis provided by post 106 for main crank 101. While handle 23a is actually pivoted about an axis parallel to the forward surface of frame 93, the angular motion of handle 23a is so limited that those skilled in the art consider motion of handle 23a to be linear. Rear section 25 converts the rotary motion of operating handle 43 into the so-called linear motion required to operate circuit breaker handle 23a. In order to obtain the best mechanical advantage the surface of ear 115 which engages handle 23a is convex being curved about an axis which is oblique with respect to the plane of motion of main crank 101 so as to extend over handle receiving aperture 108 and towards handle 23a. This construction of ear 115 eliminates sharp corners in contact with handle 23a to minimize friction therebetween for ease of circuit breaker operation and also to engage the extreme forward end of circuit breaker handle 23a to obtain the greatest mechanical advantage.

It is noted that both frame 93 and front plate 84 are provided with appropriately shaped cutouts 191, 192, respectively (FIGURE 12) to provide clearances for operation cover latch 65 and spring 54 of the circuit breaker interlock depending upon whether front section is mounted directly to front plate 32 or frame 93. It is also noted that for a given installation requiring a connecting section 35, rod 81 and tube 82 must each be cut to required length.

Thus, it is seen that the instant invention provides a novel construction for a handle mechanism used to operate a circuit breaker mounted within an enclosure having an openable cover with the handle mechanism being operable from outside the enclosure.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive privilege or property is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A unit for converting rotational movement of an operating handle to generally straight line motion of a circuit breaker handle; said unit comprising a frame adapted to be mounted to a circuit breaker housing; a first and second linkage means mounted to said frame; joining means pivotally connecting said first and second linkage means at first regions thereof; a pivot means mounted to said frame and rotatable through rotation of an operating handle positioned forward of said unit; a second region of said first linkage means being connected to said pivot means, whereby rotation of said pivot means effects rotation of said first linkage means; a second region of said second linkage means being pivoted to said frame about a stationary axis generally perpendicular to a plane of motion for said second linkage; said second linkage means including translating means having a portion positioned to engage and impart generally straight line motion to a circuit breaker handle engaged thereby responsive to rotational motion of said pivot means and said first linkage means; said portion comprising an ear projecting transverse to said plane; said ear including a convex surface for engagement with a circuit breaker handle; said joining means being movable to a position wherein said pivot means is disposed between said joining means and said stationary axis.

2. A unit as set forth in claim 1, wherein said translating means includes an aperture within said second linkage means located intermediate said first and second regions thereof; said convex surface facing said aperture.

3. A unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein the joining means is a lost motion means pivotally joining said first and second linkage means at said first regions.

4. A unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said ear projects from said second linkage means toward said first linkage means.

5. A unit as set forth in claim 4 wherein said first linkage means is positioned forward of said second linkage means.

6. A unit as set forth in claim 1 wherein said convex surface is formed about an axis that is oblique with respect to said plane.

7. A unit for converting rotational movement of an operating handle to generally straight line motion of a circuit breaker handle; said unit comprising a frame adapted to be mounted to a circuit breaker housing; a first and second linkage means mounted to said frame; joining means pivotally connecting said first and second linkage means at first regions thereof; a pivot means mounted to said frame and rotatable through rotation of an operating handle positioned forward of said unit; a second region of said first linkage means being connected to said pivot means, whereby rotation of said pivot means effects rotation of said first linkage means; a second region of said second linkage means being pivoted to said frame about a stationary axis generally perpendicular to a plane of motion for said second linkage; said second linkage means including translating means having a portion positioned to engage and impart generally straight line motion to a circuit breaker handle engaged thereby responsive to rotational motion of said pivot means and said first linkage means; said portion comprising an ear projecting transverse to said plane; said ear including a convex surface for engagement with a circuit breaker handle; said translating means including an aperture within said second linkage means located intermediate said first and second regions thereof; said convex surface facing said aperture.

8. A unit for converting rotational movement of an operating handle to generally straight line motion of a circuit breaker handle; said unit comprising a frame adapted to be mounted to a circuit breaker housing; a

first and second linkage means mounted to said frame; joining means pivotally connecting said first and second linkage means at first regions thereof; a pivot means mounted to said frame and rotatable through rotation of an operating handle positioned forward of said unit; a second region of said first linkage means being connected to said pivot means, whereby rotation of said pivot means effects rotation of said first linkage means; a second region of said second linkage means being pivoted to said frame about a stationary axis generally perpendicular to a plane of motion for said second linkage; said second linkage means including translating means having a portion positioned to engage and impart generally straight line motion to a circuit breaker handle engaged thereby responsive to rotational motion of said pivot means and said first linkage means; said portion comprising an ear projecting transverse to said plane; said ea'r including a convex surface for engagement with a circuit breaker handle; said ear projecting from said second linkage means toward said first link-age means.

9. A unit as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first linkage means is positioned forward of said second linkage means.

10. A unit for converting rotational movement of an operating handle to generally straight line motion of a circuit breaker handle; said unit comprising a frame adapted to be mounted to a circuit breaker housing; a first and second linkage means mounted to said frame; joining means pivotally connecting said first and second linkage means at first regions thereof; a pivot means mounted to said frame and rotatable through rotation of an operating handle positioned forward of said unit; a second region of said first linkage means being. connected to said pivot means; whereby rotation of said pivot means effects rotation of said first linkage means; a second region of said second linkage means being pivoted to said frame about a stationary axis generally penpendicular to a plane of motion for said second linkage; said second linkage means including translating means having a portion positioned to engage and impart generally straight line motion to a circuit breaker handle engaged thereby responsive to rotational motion of said pivot means and said first linkage means; said portion comprising an ear projecting transverse to said plane; said ear including a convex surface for engagement with a circuit breaker handle; said convex surface formed about an axis that is oblique with respect to said plane.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,890,302 6/1959 De Benedictis 200--5O 3,187,120 6/1965 Akst 74-104 X 3,235,699 2/1966 Brumfield 200-17O ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

I. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A UNIT FOR CONVERTING ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT OF AN OPERATING HANDLE TO GENERALLY STRAIGHT LINE MOTION OF A CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLE; SAID UNIT COMPRISING A FRAME ADAPTED TO BE MOUNTED TO A CIRCUIT BREAKER HOUSING; A FIRST AND SECOND LINKAGE MEANS MOUNTED TO SAID FRAME; JOINING MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND LINKAGE MEANS AT FIRST REGIONS THEREOF; A PIVOT MEANS MOUNTED TO SAID FRAME AND ROTATABLE THROUGH ROTATION OF AN OPERATING HANDLE POSITIONED FORWARD OF SAID UNIT; A SECOND REGION OF SAID FIRST LINKAGE MEANS BEING CONNECTED TO SAID PIVOT MEANS, WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID PIVOT MEANS EFFECTS ROTATION OF SAID FIRST LINKAGE MEANS; A SECOND REGION OF SAID SECOND LINKAGE MEANS BEING PIVOTED TO SAID FRAME ABOUT A STATIONARY AXIS GENERALLY PERPENDICULAR TO A PLANE 